Dental impression tray



April 29, 1952 F. c. wr-:NTzEL 2,594,832

DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY Filed April 25, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FIG.: if

35 INVENTOR.

FRANK C. WENTZEL BY Mex ATTORNEY.

April 29, 1952 F. c. wEN'rzEl.

DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April. 25, 1951 FIG.6

I vl FIG. l0

. INVENTOR. FRANK C. WENTZEL ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 29, V1952 s DENTAL IMPRESSION TRAY Frank Owentzel, Philadelphia, Pa. Application April 25, 1951, Serial No. 222,890

2 Claims. (Ci. 32-17) This invention relates to dental impression trays, that is, to the trays used for supporting the impression material when taking an impression of a patients jaws for the purpose of constructing properly tting dentures.

Heretofore, it was the common practice to provide a large number of trays, of different sizes and shapes, and the dentist would select the one nearest to the shape of the jaw of the patient. These trays were commonly made of pressed sheet metal and through constant use became battered and offensive in appearance. By reason of the trays having been obviously used for making impressions in other patients mouths the psychological effect was bad in that the patient always had the feeling that the tray had been previously used on other people whose mouths were not in a good and healthy condition.

It has heretofore been suggested to make dental impression trays of a plurality of parts whereby Ythe same could be adjusted to the sizes and shapes of the mouths of different people. When trays of this character were used, while the number required to be kept available for the dentists use was greatly reduced, there still remained the feeling of the patient that the repetitions use of the same was unsanitary and objectionable.

Furthermore, such trays of the adjustable type were usually made of a large number of parts and the fitting of the same to the patients jaws was always awkward and annoying to the patient. 'i t ion;

With the foregoing in view, the impression tray of the present invention contemplates the provision of an adjustable tray, adaptable to a considerable range of sizes and shapes of the patients jaws.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a dental impression tray of the character aforesaid, made of two main or principal members readily and conveniently adjustable with respect to each other, whereby a minimum of discomfort and annoyance to the patient is obtained in the use of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tray 'of the character aforesaid, the main members of which may be readily molded of an inexmately on the line 9-9 of Fig. 6;

A further object of the invention is to provide a dental impression tray of the character aforesaid, portions f which may be readily cut away when necessary by reason of unusual and abnormal conditions.

The nature and characteristic features of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a dental impression tray, particularly adaptedfor the taking of impressions of the upper jaw, the same embodying the main features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of one of the meml taken approxifeatures of the invention, for taking impressions of the lower jaw or mandible of a patient still having some teeth left therein, the same being shown in an inverted position;

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the tray shown in Fig. 6, the same being turned over to the operative posi- Fig. 8 is a horizontal section mately on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken taken approxiapproxi- Fig. 10 is a plan View similar to Fig. 6, of an impression tray adapted for use in taking impressions of the lower jar of mandible of an edentulous patient and Fig. 11 is a side elevation thereof.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is therein shown a preferred form of tray embodying the present invention adapted to be used in' making impressions of the upper jaw for the purpose of fitting dentures thereto.

Y The tray comprises two main or principal.

members A and Member A, shown detached to Fig. 1, of a in Fig. 2, is provided with a forwardly projecting plate portion 2B, which also serves as part of the handle, and a rearwardly extending tongue 2|, which parts merge into a central plate portion 22 to which is secured the part 23 comprising the tray portion proper which serves to hold the material for taking the' impression of the right side of the upper jaw.

'I'he upper surface of the handle portion 20 and the tongue 2l of the member A is made fiat for the adjustable mounting thereon of the member B the contacting parts of which are also made fiat.

The tray portion proper has a fence-like ridge 25 extending from the front central portion of the assembled tray around the side, so shaped as to extend upwardly between the lip and the front surface of the gum on the right side of the upper jaw. At the rear of the tray portion there is provided an upwardly extending portion 2t which conforms as nearly as possible to the shape of the roof or hard palate on the right side of the mouth.

The member B, shown detached in Fig. 3, comprises a forwardly extending plate or handle portion t, and a tongue portion 3l extending to the left of the central portion '32 into a recess 21 provided in the base of the member A.,

The member B is also provided with a fencelihe ridge 35 extending from the central portion of the assembled tray around the side, so

shaped as to extend upwardly into the space between the lip and the front surface of the gums on the left side of the upper jaw. Also, the member B is provided with an upwardly extending central portion 36 which is so shaped as to normally overlap the inclined side face 23 of the upwardly extending portion 28 of the member A.

The under portion of the tray part 33 of the member B is made flat in conformity with the upper surface of the plate or handle portion 2U of the member A as hereinafter indicated.

. The mem-ber A has provided therein slots 29.

One slot 2e is provided in the forwardly extending or handle portion 2li and the other slot 29 is preferably provided in the central plate portion 22 of the member A, or if desired both slots may be located in the handle portion 26.

The head portion of a screw member 39 is secured in the forwardly extending portion 3i) of the member B, whereas the head portion of another screw 3S is mounted in the central portion 32 of the member B, or is otherwise located as desired. The screws 39 pass through the slots 29 which are each of a width greater than that of the screws 3e so as to allow the utmost freedom of adjustment and shifting of the members A and B with respect to each other.

The screws 39 each have clamping nuts il threaded thereon for the purpose of clamping the members A and B to each other in their adjusted positions.

Each of the ridges 25 and 35 isprovided with an internal beading 50 extending in each instance around the top margin of the ridge. The beading B serves to retain the impression material within the tray when the same is removed from the mouth of the patient, it being understood that in the use of the modern impression materials, which are of an elastic character, it is not necessary to break the same upon removal, as was required when impressions were made in plaster of Paris.

4 form of the tray for obtaining impressions of the lower jaw, particularly, for those cases in which a partial denture is to be made and there are still some teeth remaining in the patients lower jaw.

As there shown, the tray comprises two members C and D and, as in the form hereinbefore described, the member C is provided with a forwardly projecting portion 20 which serves as a handle, and a tongue member 2l extending to the left when the tray is in the inverted operative position, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

The tray portion proper of the part C has a ridge or fence25 extending around the side from the front central portion of the assembled structure. However, in lieu of the central dome provided in the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, in this instance the member C is provided with a fence or ridge 55 along its inner margin, the ridge members 25 and 56 forming a channel-like arrangement such as is shown in cross-section in Fig; 9 of the drawings.

The member D is also provided with a forwardly extending plate member 30, which forms a portion of the handle of the assembled tray.

The member D is likewise provided with ridges 35 and (it similar to the ridges provided on the tray portion proper of the member C. The ridge 35 extends around from the front central portion of the assembled structure, and the ridge 66 extends along the inner margin of the tray portion proper 33 of the member D thereby to provide a channel shown more particularly in cross-section in Fig. 9 of the drawings.

The member C is provided with the slots located in the forwardly extending plate portion and the central portion into which slots extend the screws 39. Said screws 39 are each provided with clamping nuts 46 as shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 of the drawings.

Here again each of the ridges 25 and 35, and 56 and 66 is provided with an internal beading 5t extending in each instance around the top margin of the ridge for the purpose of retaining the impression materials within the tray when the same is removed from the mouth of the patient.

In Figs. 1G and 11 of the drawings there is shown an arrangement particularly provided for edentulous cases of the lower jaw. The arrangement there shown is substantially as shown in Figs. 6, T and 8 of the drawings, with the exception that the channel provided in the tray portions proper is more shallow, as the depth of the channel provided in the form shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 is not necessary where there are no teeth remaining in the lower jaw of the patient.

In the use of a tray of the present invention. after the same is adjusted to the jaw of the patient, if any appreciable openings occur between the adjacent portions of the two members through which the impression material might be squeezed, the same may be closed by means of modeling wax or the like (not shown).

It will be seen that by the foregoing arrangement there is provided a dental impression tray which may be inexpensively made of transparent plastic materials, which is readily adjusted to any of a large range of sizes and shapes of jaw formations, and by means of which the adjustments may be made with a minimum of annoyance and inconvenience to the patient.

I claim:

1. A dental `impression tray comprising two members each having a tray portion adapted to receive impression material and each having a forwardly projecting handle portion, portions of one member overlapping complemental portions of the other member, two clamping screws oarried by the overlapping portion of one of the members, and the overlapping portion of the other member having transversely disposed slots through which said clamping screws extend thereby to permit a wide range of adjustment in desired directions.

2. A dental impression tray comprising two members each having a tray portion adapted to receive impression material and each having a forwardly projecting handle portion, portions of one member overlapping complemental portions of the other member, two clamping screws carried by the overlapping portion of one of the members, and the overlapping portion of the other member having transversely disposed slots through which said clamping screws extend, said slots being of a width appreciably greater than the diameter of said clamping screws thereby to permit a wide range of adjustment in desired directions.

FRANK C. WENTZEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

